Lyndon Baines Johnson
Democrat Party
1963-1969
1965-1969 Hubert H. Humphrey
Lyndon Johnson gets a C for his service maintaining his cool under important and stressful issues such as Civil Rights, The Vietnam War, and his self proclaimed war on poverty in America.
To start off Johnson the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that outlawed discriminating of race in jobs such as hotels and restaurants. Another way Johnson helped the Civil Rights movement was to pass the Voters Rights Act which got rid of the literacy test allowing many minorities to vote. Johnson struggled with many race riots lead by groups like the Black Panthers which left a poor side of his many steps to equal rights for all.
Secondly Johnson had to deal with the Vietnam War. Vietnam attacked American ships causing retaliation on America’s part. Congress let Johnson go and take every step needed to defend itself and repel the Vietnamese army. This war would lead to large antiwar protest and people were disappointed with Johnson and the administration.
Finally Johnson led a war against poverty. Passing the Economic Act of 1964 he hoped help the people through vocational training. Johnson also helped working people by providing child care and legal aid services to poor people.
The most influential actions were the Civil Rights actions leading to equal rights for all people that we now have today. This was the most positive because it made America truly free for all people for the first time in the nation’s history. The most negative was the Vietnam War which split the United States and showed the USA in a weaker form.
After examining Johnson’s presidency we notice that he had many positives such as civil rights and the War on poverty but the Vietnam War lead to a average score with a C.
DeGregorio, William, and Sandra Lee Stuart. The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents. Fort Lee, NJ:Barricade Books, 2009.